Ohio criminal law: expungement, what is it?

Ohio residents who have been arrested and/or convicted generally hate having criminal records. Having to share this information with employers or having this information get out to the public can hurt a person both professionally and personally. Under Ohio criminal law, there are circumstances in which one’s criminal record may be erased. The process to do this is called expungement.

Every state has different standards and procedures when it comes to expungement. It is not available to everyone and for every crime. Seeking to have one’s criminal records expunged involves going to court. A judge will look at the crime, jurisdiction and how much time has passed before deciding whether to expunge the record or let it be.

If one achieves an expungement, it means that he or she is not legally required to disclose the arrest or conviction to anyone. An expunged record will not come up on a typical background check. Law enforcement and other government agencies would still see it, though, as part of one’s criminal history.

Ohio residents who would like to have their criminal records expunged can turn to legal counsel for help. A criminal law attorney would have the ability to review the details of one’s conviction or arrest and, if deemed appropriate, assist in filing the proper request in court and presenting one’s case before a judge. There are no guarantees when seeking an expungement. This does not mean that going through the process is a waste of one’s time. If an expungement request is granted, it can have a positive impact on a person’s life, which makes the time spent seeking it well worth it.